City employees to see health insurance cost increase

Lucy Perry Photo

The Terre Haute Board of Public Works approved health coverage changes for city employees for the next year, including an increase in costs.

Pat Carney, of Old National Insurance , made several recommendations with all members voting in favor of the health coverage renewal plan. The item was not on the agenda for action, however the board opted to go ahead and approve the renewal effective July 1, based on Carney's recommendations.

Carney said the employee health coverage rates have not been raised since 2013. 

"We should have raised it, in hindsight, back in [20]14," he said, adding that the increase is a little more than 7 percent. "No increase is good, but it's getting us to where we need to be."

Board President Jon Stinson said the changes seem reasonable.

"Looking back at the claims that we've had, the fact that we had no increase last year, costs being held for some advocacy groups and some other benefits here -- to me seems to be a reasonable proposal," he said, with members Cary Sparks, James Trimble, Roland Shelton and Bob All agreeing.

Carney noted in his presentation that there are currently 539 employees on the medical plan. He reviewed the past three years of fixed costs and claims and a projected around a 7 percent increase. Family coverage will increase about $20 per pay period.

He proposed modifying the two available plans, with an increase in the 4th tier drug, or specialty drug, coverage. It currently includes a $100 co-pay. He suggested changing that to a 25 percent co-insurance with a cap of $250. He pointed out that there are groups, including manufacturers, who can potentially help curb the costs for those 125 members identified using the specialty drugs.

Another change he is recommending is geared to the the 221 spouses currently covered. He suggests encouraging them to opt out and switch to their own employer's coverage.

"This is something the county has implemented -- and most employers have implemented," he said.

Employees will also see a slight increase in vision coverage rates.


The board also approved the following: 

• Margaret Avenue Phase III CE Selection, as the project moves forward to the planned overpass at S.19th Street.
• Award Gasoline and Diesel Fuel bid to Petroleum Traders Corp. for the Terre Haute Transit Utility

• Structure in the Right-of-Way – 627 Cherry St. A representative for a planned new student housing complex explained that the request involves property about 3-feet under the sidewalk.
• The board approved a a nine-year tax abatement for the planned 83-room hotel, La Quinta Inn,  to be located near Cracker Barrel on Margaret Avenue.
• Sewer Agreement – Buell Properties, LLC
• Request fromChief Fisher to close Eighth Street between Hulman and Idaho Streets, Idaho between Eighth and Ninth Streets, and Lockport between Eighth and Ninth Streets during Fallen Heroes Day Ceremony June 12.
• Request from The National MS Society to paint their logo on the street at the intersection of Fifth Street and Wabash Avenue.
• Request from the Vigo County Library to close Walnut between Sixth and Seventh Streets on Friday , July 29 from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m.
• Request from Second Missionary Baptist Church to close 14th Street between Oak and Poplar Streets on Saturday, August 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Request from Terre Haute Tomorrow to close Wabash Avenue between Sixth and Ninth Streets, Ninth Street between Wabash Avenue and Spruce Street. and Spruce Street between Ninth and 10th Streets on Saturday, June 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Request from the First Congregational Church to post NO PARKING on the North side of Ohio from 6th to the First Financial National Bank drive thru entrance during Strawberry Festival on June 9th from 10 AM to 8 PM
• Request from W.E.S. Enterprise to close 14th Street between Deming and Crawford Streets and from Crawford Street 200 feet North of Crawford Street, and the alley between 14th and Gilbert Avenue from Crawford  Street 200 feet North of Crawford Street on August 6 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Request from Susan G Komen Race for the Cure to close Ohio Boulevard between 25th Street and Fruitridge Avenue on October 8 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and to paint a ribbon on the street at the intersection of 25th and Poplar Streets on August 2.
• Request from Wayne Newton American Legion to close the alley North of Wabash between 13th and 14th Streets on Saturday June 4 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

     





Margaret Avenue Phase III CE Selection